Here's chapter five! It's a little long, but I hope it's not boring :) It's starting to get intense... hehehehe enjoy!

Chapter Five: Castle Town to Telma's Bar

"Come, sit with me." Zelda sat back down on the edge of the fountain, patting the spot beside her. Link nodded with a grin and took his seat. Ilia hesitantly sat next to him. "So Ilia, are you also from Ordon?"

"Yup. I was raised alongside Link here!" Ilia smiled and patted Link's shoulder. He flinched, and though he tried to smile, it was more of a frightening grimace. Luckily, Ilia didn't notice. Unluckily, Zelda did.

"Is there anything wrong?" She asked him caringly. Link, with a heavy sigh, shook his head and leaned his elbows on his knees, bending forward. However, though he didn't say anything, he had an uncomfortable queasy feeling, and the nausea was increasing each moment. He felt as if he were going to throw up at any second, and it was as if nails were being pounded into his racing brain all of a sudden. Link closed his eyes tightly, squeezing them shut and trying to ignore the augmenting pain.

He managed to glance up at the cloaked princess, and she was staring straight into his eyes. There was an urgent look on her face, as if she were trying to secretly tell him something. Then, subtly and almost unnoticeably, she tilted her head towards Ilia.

"So… what now?" Ilia put her clasped hands in between her legs, staring contently at the passersby and smiling joyously to herself.

"Um, what do you want to do?" Zelda shrugged, throwing Link another glance as she asked Ilia the question. His muscles became tense, and he involuntarily flexed them as he looked down at the ground blankly. He began feeling as if he were going to suffocate, but he didn't want to worry them, so he kept his chapped lips shut. Link found himself wondering how in Farore's name he had suddenly begun feeling so sick, because only fifteen minutes ago, he had been feeling perfect.

"What is there to do in this place?" Ilia asked, turning her attention to Zelda. "You would know, wouldn't you, Princess?" She lowered her voice when she said 'Princess,' and it was said in a tone of disdain. Link felt Zelda sigh heavily beside him. He just wished that they could get along… or at least that Ilia could get along with Zelda.

"There's the S.T.A.R game, we could go to Agitha's Castle, just walk around, go to the garden outside the southern gate. We could even visit Lake Hylia if you would like. They finally built a staircase down to it." Zelda listed all of the possible activities kindly. Ilia looked at the sky, pondering all of her options.

"What about Telma's Bar?" She asked.

"Who's bar?"

"Telma!" Ilia giggled at Zelda's ignorance. "She owns a bar somewhere here in Castle Town. Where it is, I can't remember… But Link knows where it is!"

"Link, what do you want to do?" The Princess suddenly asked the Hero. He ran his hand through his shaggy blond bangs, shrugging bashfully. He could barely hear his own thoughts because of the pounding in his ears. The pain was becoming unbearable… Zelda sensed something was wrong. She placed a hand on his back, rubbing it reassuringly and leaning down towards him.

"Link?" Ilia furrowed her brow in concern and also began rubbing his back. Link knew that they were simply trying to make him feel better, but he just wanted to get their hands off of him.

"Ilia, something's wrong with him. Are you feeling okay, Link? Please talk to us." Zelda whispered in his ear, and though her face was shadowed, he knew that she had taken on a worried expression.

"Ugh," he groaned eerily, and the world began spinning.

"Oh my goddesses, Link!" Ilia gasped, her green eyes widening in fear for her best friend. "What's wrong?"

"Look at me," Zelda kept herself calm, though it was the perfect time to panic. No matter how much Ilia wished it weren't true, she was indubitably jealous of the princess's ability to keep her composure. She lifted his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. As he was lifted from his hunched state, he let out a pained moan and sucked in his breath. The pain in his stomach only increased as his back was straightened.

Zelda examined him with focused eyes and gentle hands against his white cheeks. The blood was draining from his face, and he was a sickly pale. His blue eyes were drooping heavily. The world was beginning to blur around him, still spinning intensely. She placed the back of her hand against his forehead.

"He's as hot as Din's fire," Zelda stated quietly, her voice slightly shaky.

"What?" Ilia walked around and knelt beside Zelda, facing the barely conscious Link. The two girls' figures were beginning to mix together until Link couldn't tell them apart. All he wanted to do was fall asleep, never to wake up to this kind of pain again. He wanted to scream, but his lack of strength prevented from doing so voluntarily. Link barely had the energy to groan, let along scream in pure agony.

"Link, can you hear me?" Zelda's silky, resonating voice reached his pounding ears, and he could hear it just vaguely. "Can you say anything to me?"

"Please be okay. Stay strong!" Ilia exclaimed, running a hand down his cheek. The contact sent static through his body, and he shuddered harshly. "Link!" Even with his current state, he could make out the extreme worry and fear in Ilia's high-pitched voice.

"Ilia calm down." Zelda said, still examining the deteriorating savior of Hyrule.

"Why in Hyrule should I calm down? He looks like he's going to pass out!" She shrieked.

"Please, just help me get him somewhere safe." Zelda's voice remained steady, though with a slight tremble, as she comforted the exaggerating Ilia. "We need to get him to Doctor Borville."

"Doctor Borville? No, not him." The Ordonian girl shook her head vigorously, giving Zelda a disgusted look. The Princess was beginning to get agitated, even Link could tell, and he could barely make out anything at that point. Just as Ilia said those words, Link lost his senses. He was in a strange state: still conscious, but absolutely unaware of everything around him. There was nothing but blinding, bright pain…

"Why… not? He's the only doctor in Castle Town."

"Yes, and he happens to be the worst!"

"And the best!"

"Listen to me, Princess. He's a crabby old man with no compassion and no heart. I know where we should take him…" Ilia paused. "Telma's Bar."
"I'm sorry, but neither of us knows where that is. And I doubt Link's in the condition to lead us there."

"We have to find her, though! She's probably the only one who can help him." Ilia herself was beginning to simmer down. Though she didn't like the princess very much, she knew that they needed to team up together to help Link.

"We don't have time! I already know where Doctor Borville resides!" Zelda argued.

"AH!" Link involuntarily let out a scream of agony, doubling over and clutching his bursting stomach. The sound startled Ilia, Zelda, and everyone else around.

"Link!" Both girls screamed.

"What's happening here?" A young Hylian man rushed up to them, the only one who had the decency to approach the troubled teenagers.

"Please, kind sir," Zelda stood, letting Ilia tend to Link. "Could you take us to Telma's Bar?"

"Telma's Bar? Of course! It's in southern Castle Town." The man nodded, but he seemed slightly taken aback at the hooded figure speaking to him with such good manners. "Come along, come along." He gestured for them to follow, and Zelda returned to Link's side. She and Ilia helped lift him onto his feet, wrapping his arms around each of their shoulders. Link could barely stand, and if Ilia and Zelda hadn't been there, he would've crumpled straight to the ground.

"Thank you so much." They both said in unison.

"Don't thank me." He smiled kindly as he began walking, leading them toward Telma's Bar. They were practically dragging Link along. "But would you mind telling me what happened to the young lad?" He furrowed his brow curiously as he examined the slumping, limp boy.

"Um… We're not really sure. He was fine a little bit ago." Ilia began. Her voice was trembling, and there were tears in her bright eyes.

"Don't worry, we'll get him better soon. I know for a fact that Telma can help him. She's one of a kind, that Telma." The man shook his head, inwardly amazed at Telma's actions. "But you know, the same thing happened with my friend's son." The man continued as he led them onward toward south Castle Town.

"Wait… what?" Zelda asked. The man's words had unintentionally caught her attention.

"Yup. The young lad is sick in bed, and it just came out of nowhere. Very strange, if you ask me."

"Yes," Zelda sighed. "Very strange."

Ilia was too caught up in caring for Link to pay attention to Zelda and the man's conversation.

"AH!" Link suddenly let out another scream, causing Zelda and Ilia both to jump in surprise. He lifted an arm from Zelda's shoulder subconsciously to grab his stomach.

"No," The tears began running down Ilia's cheeks. Link began coughing uncontrollably, shaking as he leaned against his best friend.

"Dear, the boy is very sick." The man said, and Zelda crouched beside him and put her arm on his back.

"Unfortunately," Zelda sighed, her composure slipping.

"Well, luckily, Telma's place is right down these stairs." The man stepped aside, gesturing towards a small alcove. "And I do hope the boy gets better."

"Thank you very much, sir." Zelda nodded to him gratefully. Ilia was too worked up to say anything.

"The pleasure's all mine. My best wishes." The man nodded and strolled off, leaving the three alone in front of Telma's Bar.

"Come on. Let's go inside, Ilia." Zelda led Ilia and Link inside, opening the door for them. She looked around anxiously before following them inside, shutting the door behind her.

"Oh, no," Telma smiled jokingly and leaned over the counter as they entered her bar, and Ilia rejoiced inside at the refreshing sight of her in her black jacket, skirt, and orange undershirt. "Ilia! Link! I thought you'd be back soon." She winked.

"Telma, it's so good to see you." Ilia greeted, trying to suppress her tears. "But, Link…"

"Oh, my goodness! What happened to the lad?" Telma hurriedly walked around the counter, her white Persian cat purring and following at her heels. "…And who's your cloaked friend here?"

"Um," Zelda looked down.

"Oh, I see. But if you're a friend of Link's, you're welcome in my bar." Telma winked again, putting her hands on her hips and giving her signature crooked smile. At the table in the far corner sat the four regular costumers: Auru, Rusl, Ashei, and Shad. Ilia waved precariously, but her attention was still on Link.

"Telma, we don't know what happened! We were in the central plaza, and he just…" Ilia paused, sniffling. "I don't know. He's barely conscious. You're the only one I trust to help him."

"Don't worry darling, I'll help him. Let's get him upstairs, where he can lie down." Telma tilted her head towards the stairs, and Ilia nodded and began leading Link toward them. Zelda followed, nodding gratefully to Telma as they passed by. "I'll be up in a second. I have to get a nice cup of soup ready for him, because let me tell you, he does not look good honey."

"We know. And we really appreciate this." Zelda smiled, still not lowering her hood. But she reminded herself to do so later, because Telma seemed trustworthy… especially if she were to truly help Link.

He could barely drag himself up the stairs, and his coughing never ceased. Ilia wasn't much help in comforting him, because she couldn't even keep herself calm. Zelda, on the other hand, spoke reassuring words in a low voice, making sure that he was still with them.

"There we go… You're safe now, Link." Zelda whispered as they laid him down on the bed on the second floor, and he groaned as she pulled the covers over his shaking body.

"Princess Zelda," Ilia wiped the tears as she said her name. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. He's done so much for me. This is the least I can do." Zelda smiled, pulling down the hood and finally revealing her breathtaking face. Her brown tresses were tied up in a high ponytail, but the traditional golden headband remained secure on her forehead. Sweat was running down the sides of her face. Ilia gasped discreetly, shocked at finally seeing the lovely princess in person.

"Ilia, sweet pea! Come down here for a second and help me with this!" Telma's voice was muffled as it called from downstairs.

"Coming!" Ilia cried. "Well I better go down. Take care of Link for me until I get back." She smiled sweetly before turning around and heading downstairs. After she was gone, Zelda sat on the edge of Link's bed and took of his hat. She began pushing the matted hair off his sweaty forehead.

"Please be okay," She said. Then she lightly kissed his forehead, caressing his flustered cheek with her finger. She needed him to be okay. It wasn't a desire… it was a need.

So what did you guys think? Well, tell me in your reviews! Hahah please? Well, I'll update Chapter 6 soon! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING PEOPLE! I love you guys so much. You make me feel special inside :)))